I grab her exploring finger just as it reaches my happy trail—a trail that if I let her wander down further will lead us to do things we can’t take back. Things like three-word phrases being confessed that would end me if I was rejected. Things like selfishly wanting to own her body and doing things to her that would make my fantasies blush. And things like making her promises too soon that won’t do either of us any good. She makes me want a future that’s not possible, and one I don’t deserve.

Listening to my ego got me into this situation. Will listening to my heart get me out?

Interview with S.L. Scott

Writing

1. What’s a typical day like in the life of S.L. Scott?
Getting my kiddos off to school, coming home and catching up on Twitter and FB and either writing or editing or both, chatting with friends during breaks and then the kids are home. I’m back on once they go to bed. I like the late night hours to write. It’s so quiet and serene.

2. Who or what inspired you to become a writer?
I’ve been a writer my whole life, long before I published. I have pages and pages of poems, short stories, screenplays, and books. But the classics along with modern tales such as Bridget Jones’ Diary, Pride and Prejudice, The Shopaholic Series, Twilight and The Hunger Games reinvigorated that desire in me.

3. Do you remember the first thing you ever wrote?
No, but I remember I made a little book out of red construction paper before the age of five. Yarn held it together. It was a picture book.

4. Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way, either growing up or as an adult?
I’m sure you hear this so much, but Twilight made me yearn to capture emotions down in words again. I loved the first person perspective and it gave me permission so to speak to write in that voice instead of third.

5. Where do you get your ideas from? Do they come to you or are they inspired by true events?
Both. Music is very inspirational to me. I’ll hear some lyrics and a whole story will form around it. Love that feeling of the early stages of development and you listen to a song like fifty times to keep the scene going.

6. Do you work with an outline or just write?
I just write. Outlines feel constricting to me. I like a more organic approach.

7. Do you ever experience writer’s block? If so, how do you get out of the funk?
Fortunately, not really. I’m a believer that if you’re getting stumped that you write your way through it. When you’re done, you many keep some of it or you may toss it all, but it keeps the writing juices flowing, which is the goal.<

8. Do you listen to music while writing? If so, what do you listen to?
I love more emerging artists and popular artists. What I listen to depends on what type of scene I’m writing. There are certain artists and songs that I can only listen to if I’m in a really angsty mood and others that only fit happiness. Then I listen to it on repeat until I written the scene in full. Forever that song is marked in my head and reminds me of that part then. It’s kind of awesome. Feels like visiting an old friend when it comes on the iPod.

9. Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published?
I did do the query letters to agents and rejections and all that. Then I took a break from that and just decided to write. Write because I loved to write and I would challenge myself with subject matter and types of styles. I wrote four books in six months. Then took some time away and kept coming back to edit and fix and rework. I also discovered a wonderful online writing community. Finally, I decided I wanted to try and focus on getting published again, so I entered a contest where the prize was a contract. Even though I had a lot of stories written by that point, I chose an idea I had tinkered with years earlier and started writing it out. The interesting part is I had casually sent some chapters and query letters out and in the middle of this contest, I got offered two contracts. I touched base with the publisher hosting the contest and they wanted to make an offer on the story from the contest because they loved it. I ended up signing with them. So it was a weird and long and roundabout way to get published, but it’s uniquely my story.

10. For those who aren’t familiar with your other books, which one would you recommend to read first?
Since Naturally, Charlie is being re-launched as my own self-published title on June 25th of this month and isn’t currently available, I would say A Prior Engagement. It’s very different from Good Vibrations and told in 3rd person, but I just swoon over the romance and strength of their love. Naturally, Charlie is more similar in style of writing to Good Vibrations. As for sexy times, I’d recommend Sleeping with Mr. Sexy. There are some hot scenes in that story.

Good Vibrations

11. What inspired Good Vibrations?
My love for surfers, Hawaii, and summertime. I combined some of my favorite things and was like this is how I want to spend my time writing. I want to write about what I love to read and see.

12. How did you come up with the title?Good Vibrations just feels and sounds like summer mixed with romance. Lol True. It felt beachy and captured the sexier side of the story as well. I love it.

13. What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why? Hardest?
Evan’s first full chapter. He has so many emotions running rampant around his head and he has trouble expressing them because that means admitting something he’s not entirely ready to admit. After that his mind was focused. It was therapeutic for him to get that initial release out when he’s talking to Kate.

14. Which character speaks/spoke the loudest to you?
Mallory which is why there is so much of her at the beginning of the story. It started out as her journey and then suddenly Evan just needed his side to be heard.

15. Which of your characters would you like to meet in person and why? What would you say to that person?
I would like to hang out with Evan and let him psychoanalyze me. He loves that. He has great instincts about people right from the first meeting. He calls them out because he sees the beauty in flaws in people and doesn’t hold it against them.

16. I think this is the perfect summer read. There’s sun, water and romance! Why did you choose Hawaii as the book’s setting?
I love Hawaii. I’ve been there four times and would love to have a vacation home there one day. It’s truly paradise. I wrote how I feel about it.

17. Give us the 140 character TWEET description of your book!
Escape to paradise with a hot surfer this summer. Feel the Good Vibrations.

18. Will the rest of the Welcome to Paradise Series be focused on Mallory and Evan only?
Yes, they are the main storyline focus for the series. We will learn about the others and they will be actively present, but the story will stay in Mallory and Evan’s perspective.

19. What projects are you working on now?
I’m in heavy edits for book 2 of the series now. I have a name and cover that I’m so excited to share, but that will come in due time.

Smooches Showdown

1. Dream city vacation?
I actually dream of Paris. I went once many years ago and it wasn’t enough. I’ve had actual dreams of being back there. Truly, the most romantic city in the world.

2. Favorite song/band?
I do love so many and see a lot of live shows. One of my current faves is Phoenix

3. Light or dark chocolate?
Dark chocolate.

4. What side of the bed do you sleep on?
The right. Naturally.

5. Favorite ice cream flavor?
Haagen Daaz Salted Caramel

6. Favorite fictional male (or female) character you have not written?
Ironically two Bennetts – Elizabeth Bennet (with one T) from Pride and Prejudice and Josh Bennett from The Sea of Tranquility

About S.L. Scott:

S.L. Scott is a former high-tech account manager with a journalism degree pursuing her passion for telling stories. She spends her days escaping into her characters and letting them lead her on their adventures.

Live music shows, harvesting jalapenos and eating homemade guacamole are her obsessions she calls hobbies.

Scott lives in the beautiful Texas Hill Country of Austin with her husband, two young sons, two Papillons and a bowl full of Sea Monkeys.